how do you get the correct temps with an MVB

[smyth]

hey guys, im new to the forum im in the process of moving my beardie into a 4ftx2ftx2ft viv. Now i have a couple of megarays(160w) and i want to use one in this viv but im concerned that becuase you cant use a thermostat with them i wont be able to get the temps right. Do any of you guys use an MVB in your vivs? if so how do u go about getting the temps right? thanks guys

Craig

 

[fresnowitte]

:wave: Hi Craig!

All of my viv's are open top not the condo style. I didn't have any problems achieving proper temps. Just adjust the basking spot height so it is withing the 12 to 18 inches or whatever the megaray specs are until the temp is right. I have only ever used a MVB but not the Megaray. Keep in mind that the temps can rise quickly if your house ambient temps go up. I have a few times needed to raise my MVB a couple of inches when Summer heat was blazin'. In the very deep of Winter I have added a extra regular white household bulb next to the MVB for some added heat.

I can tell you that the infrared temp gun is a handy dandy tool to have when using a MVB. :mrgreen:

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hello Craig and Welcome,

I use the Megaray 160w in my enclosure. With the 160w you will want a minimum of 18" from bulb to basking spot. The 160w gets extremely hot. I have mine at 21" and use a 40w household bulb to bring up temps in the coolend of the tank. My tank is 5ft x 3ft x 3.5ft. In the afternoon I have to turn the 40w off, due to the temps rising with it being warmer outside. Granted I live in FL...so it does get pretty warm in the afternoon here. I would think for your size enclosure a 100w megaray would be a much better choice. Then again it really does depend on the temps in your home. I don't believe I have ever heard of someone using the 160w in a 4x2x2 enclosure...but I could be wrong!

Be careful with any mvb you use, they have a burn in time and can take a while in the beginning for temps to level out. They will fluctuate quite a bit the first week you are using it. Just keep a close eye on the temps. Make sure you have either a digital thermometer with a long wire and probe end or a temp gun, so you can keep on top of your temps.

Hope this helps!

Dawn

 

[smyth]

sorry i didnt see id posted this twice lol. thanks for ur replies guys i think from what people have said im gona have to go and get a uv tube instead of using the megaray, 160w will be far too powerfull for a 4x2x2. if id had an extra ft on the height i dont think id have had a prob but theres no room to play with temps with it being 2ft high. thanks for ur help guys

Craig.

 

[Lennifer]

Barbera...how big are your enclosures? Just curious because I really want to start using the MVB bulbs but Drago is only in a 40 gallon breeder. I have been advised that a 40 gallon breeder is the minimum size to be able to use a MVB & that if I get the 100 watt...it will need to be 12 inches away from the basking spot. Is that correct? I was asking about the size of your enclosures because I have been thinking of taking the screen top off of Drago's enclosure to be able to make the MVB work but I am afraid he will escape out of the cage. Sorry to hi-jack this post

THANKS!

~Sandy

 

[gulfbrzdawn]

Hey Sandy....Barbara's not here right now so I will answer that for you. Yes, a 40 gallon breeder is the minimum size you can use with an MVB and with the 100W you will need a minimum distance of 12" from bulb to basking spot.

Barbara will be back in a while and she can tell you about her enclosures. If I remember correctly.... I believe she's had a few escapees :lol: I'm not absolutely sure tho...so I'll let her tell you! :wink:

Hope this helps!

Dawn


On a side note.....I don't think you need to worry about hijacking this thread...LOL...it was double posted!

 

[Lennifer]

Thanks Dawn! I really want to change his lighting to the MVB but I'm afraid I will need to remove the screen & have it be an open top enclosure, to be able to acheive proper temps. I am terrified of him getting loose & not being able to find him. We have them old heaters that go around the floor boards (the base board heaters) & I am always afraid he will try to climb up in it Honestly...I am trying to convince my fiance to build me one of them beardie condo's but he just keeps telling me that he's not a carpenter! lol

~Sandy

 

[GoFast]

hey sandy, why would you need to remove the screen top to run and MVB? Before E's new viv, i ran my mvb through a screen top with much success.

 

[Lennifer]

Really? I was just concerned that it may be too hot of a basking spot if I just layed it on top of the screen. Maybe I just need to find a diff basking item instead of the branch thingy he has. It's kind of high...so maybe if I find a lower basking item it will work for me to lay it on the screen. Unless u were saying that u actually had the MVB inside of the cage? If I put it inside the cage...it won't be far enough away from the basking spot. Thanks for all the advice. I just want to get him the better lighting. I have heard wonders about the diff in your beardie from switching form standard method of lighting to the UVB & as I always..I want what's best for my boy! lol

~Sandy

 

[GoFast]

oh yeah! you should have no problem with a 100watter! mine was directly on top of the screen and i had a log directly under the light and that allowed 12 inches. I had a climbing branch/stump where the highest point was 4 inches to the right and 6 inches from the bulb. at that point the uvb was still in the green zone and temps were about 100.

so just arrange things a bit differently and you can use an MVB

 

[Lennifer]

Hey, thanks so much!! I am going to order one & give it a try :wink:

~Sandy

 

[GoFast]

I should have mentioned this before...make sure your screen is metal(i.e aluminum, steel) and not the fiberglass/cloth screen because the fiberglass one WILL melt

 

[Lennifer]

oooh, thanks for letting me know cuz i think I have the mesh kind lol
I'll go pick up one of the metal ones. Thanks again!

~Sandy

 

[fresnowitte]

Hey Sandy!

To answer your question I have 40gal to 60ish gal. I use the 125watt Exo-terra in all of them(live in California if I lived in a cooler state I'd probably need the larger wattage on the larger viv's or atleast more added wattage of extra light to acquire temps). I don't have any problems with keeping temps within range. Dawn is correct I don't use screens as I'm always home or someone is to keep an eye on all the beardies. But like GoFast said if you use a screen it needs to be metal and a large mesh perferably. The ones that normally come on most viv's are not the kind of screen to use if you don't want to block UVB. Sandy your right the best way to adjust the basking temps would be to adjust the height of your basking spot. Myself I have mine clamped to sticks that are mounted to my stands...they also make a lamp stand for the clamp on hood lamps.

Anyway for right now don't use the PowerSun 100watt there is testing being done on that bulb. They changed something in it and didn't change the packaging so the distance needs to be different or something like that you can read more about it in Tracie's thread. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=105629

I've spoke to Frances Baines Tracie's friend and she assured me that the Exo-terra Solar Glo was a good bulb that she is even using one. She hasn't added the Solar Glo to the uvguide yet but will be adding it soon. She was kind enough to share this with me so I'm going to share it here.

However I realize the packaging on the MVB's say to change every 12 months myself I don't have a UVB tester so I always change mine at about 8 to 9 months. Better safe than sorry. Not only is this a good bulb but I find it to be well priced here. http://www.reptilesupply.com/index.php?cPath=26_33